Kate Sarsfield/LONDON
Avions Pierre Robin has pushed back production of its Aiglon II light aircraft to the last quarter of 1998 so that it can concentrate on satisfying the high demand for its existing product line.
The all metal Aiglon II was initially scheduled for first deliveries early this year, nearly 18 years after the original R118 Aiglon production line was halted.
"We do not have the resources to develop the Aiglon II for the time being as we have reached full capacity at our factory," says Robin president Jean-Paul Pellissier.
The Darois, Dijon-based factory, which produces 70-80 general aviation aircraft a year, now accommodates the DR500 President, the DR200, the DR 2160/i and Akrotech's CAP 202 and 222. The company has acquired extra manufacturing staff to help satisfy demand.
The four-seat wooden DR500, which is sold out until the end of the year, received French certification in May and is scheduled to receive UK approval at the end of June. The Robin 2160i aerobatic aircraft, which is also sold out, is scheduled for French certification at the end of June.
The basic 2160 variant was rejected by the UK Royal Air Force for its Bulldog replacement requirements "...because the University Air Squadron needed a faster machine - the new aircraft [with the fuel-injected engine] would probably satisfy these requirements now," says Robin's UK distributor, Mistral Aviation.
The company intends to replace the existing powerplant with the Renault Morane diesel engine, which is now under development.
Meanwhile, Robin's sister company, Bul Aero, has completed flight tests for its Ultralight, which will be available in manufactured and home-built form.
"The aircraft has undergone 40h of test flying and we can begin investing in tooling as soon as the changes to the French ultralight certification programme are in place," says Pellissier.
The company hopes to receive French certification before August, and to build the first production aircraft next January.
Source: Flight International